I feel like my current fishing world can be best summed up by Ray Davies, who wrote, “The news was so bad that I fell out of bed.”
The fishing on Block was soul-crushingly bad. This is the third straight down year, and I felt lucky to have landed five stripers in seven nights. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Four skunks in the mix. (Really?) My biggest fish was 22″, bringing my streak of not landing a keeper or better to three years. How far that shore fishery has fallen!
Back on the home front, Mother Nature and the MDC are wreaking havoc upon the Farmington River. A couple days from now is my traditional date to go fish the dorothea at a favorite mark, but that’s obviously not going to happen. To add insult to injury, I’ve had to cancel both wet fly lessons scheduled for this week.
Normally, I’d console myself by heading to the Housatonic, but that river is also experiencing catastrophic water levels. No smallmouth for you! And no smallmouth for me, either. The white fly hatch will come and go, and none of us will be able to enjoy fishing it. Maybe the Hous will come down to a dry/wet fly fishable level in 2-3 weeks. That’s assuming we don’t get pounded by rain…again. This is now four consecutive alternating years of flood, then drought. It’s the new normal, and it sucks for all of us. What’s worse, it can’t be good for the ecosystem. Would a happy medium be too much to ask? Perhaps the silver lining will be more trout holding over to this fall. We shall see.
Finally, good reader, I must apologize for all this doom and gloom. I try to be a positive force, but I also feel compelled to tell it like it is. I suppose I could use this time to prep my fall striper box, or my winter nymph box, or even get a head start on some steelhead flies. Maybe some bluegills down at the pond on Elk Hair Caddis and a six-foot glass rod would cheer me up? Now there’s a thought…
currentseams.com 
Hi Steve, SOrry your trip to Block was disappointing. I went to BI for 3 days in June…not a sniff, 5 skunks. The water was literally saturated with sand eels. The charter guys were doing well off the ledge, consistently landing 30″-45″ fish. Right now, I am reevaluating my Sept. trip to BI. On the Vineyard the M.s. bite is slow, a few slot fish around, but very few larger fish. The water is bathtub warm, the days are oppressively hit and humid and the times they are a changing with the fishery here too. I’m off to Cutty at the end of the month. Last year I had one decent fish in 3 days. Hope it stops raining and the rivers get more fishable soon. Best, Ned Bean
Hi Ned, I’ll go into greater detail in a future post — hopefully this week — but I do not like the current trend on Block Island. In fact, it is rather heartbreaking. I thank you for reading and commenting, and your experiences and intel are of value to all of us.
Hi
Thx so very much for all you do and say. I read your every word.
Any comments on what happens to all the fish when this type of flooding happens. I’m in western Ct and live on Candlewood. Fish the lake and the small streams in my area. Just looking at the streams I have to wonder, how do the fish survive?
Best, Bill Hubric
Hi Bill, thanks for reading and for commenting. Your enthusiasm is making me smile! What happens to the fish? The small and the weak that cannot find slower water or current breaks get washed downstream. (This may explain why the smallmouth population on the Hous has crashed in recent years. The YOY bass go on an extended downriver tour…
I believe a good percentage of fish do survive and remain in place. They hug the bottom and head for the slower currents along the shore line. There’s plenty of food being washed into the system, and being ripped away from the substrate. They are not subject to attacks from birds of prey like they are in low, clear water. And even if temperatures are elevated, they are not subject to stress from being hooked and landed.
We’ll know this year’s answer the the water comes down. 🙂
Likely have room end of October if you want to shake off the Block skunk
Very kind of you to offer! I appreciate your optimism…
Last year was very good.
Good to know!
I think a good scotch. A moment at the vise tying wooly buggers, and washing waders would nearly suffice.
Momentarily.
Until the urge hit.
Then water levels, climate change and lack of a good cigar – be damned.
It’s an addiction not an avocation.
Stuart, you get major points for originality! A much needed good laugh. I’ll see your whisky and raise you a red wine, which I am enjoying right now…as for cigars, I polluted myself on Block with them and am (temporarily) going cold turkey.
Stillwater fishing is a great choice
I’m not a stillwater fan, but if the need dictates…
I value your honesty
Well, thanks. I have nothing to sell you but the truth. 🙂
Hi Steve,
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I’m not currently having a gre, but I’m willing to try one. Seriously, can you resend your comment? 🙂
Hi Steve,
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Hi Steve,
Hope you’re day is getting better. I would like your thoughts on this new land conservation around Hogback and Colebrook. They talk like they will optimize flow for the Farmington.
I enjoy your newsletter and hope to get out with you one to learn some wet fly fishing. Thanks for your time.
Hi Levi, I’m not entirely sure about the facts, so I hesitate to attempt a comment. If I find out more, I’ll gladly do so. Perhaps you can send me a link to some good information? As far as a lesson goes, you know where to find me!
Hi Steve,
This is where I read about the change. Thanks again.
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I’m sorry, Levi, but your interface does not like this website interface. Please send and email. Thanks!
I appreciate you telling it like it is. I don’t feel like it’s doing well at all. And the bluegill idea sounds like a winner.
See my remarks below 🙂
Darn auto correct – supposed to read“I don’t feel like the doom and gloom isbad at all”. I appreciate the honesty.
Bob, I think we could all tell tales of horror about what autocorrect has done to our thoughts! Thanks for reading, and thanks for your feedback.
Look at what just happened in Vt. Catastrophic floods. It could be worst. I just caught my biggest fish of the season on the Cape. She took me into my backing and was a
35″ fish. That being said it’s been a spotty season on the Cape this season.
Bill
It could indeed be worse. But no fishing is no fishing whether the water is 5K or 20K….but I take your point. I’m grateful it’s not that bad in CT, and what’s happened in VT is awful. Congrats on your fish! I haven’t gotten anything that large since last fall.
Sadly I think we’re going to experience much worst until we get a handle on Global Warming. Bill